SBI USMNT Man of the Match: Jozy Altidore

For the first time in 27 games for club and country, Jozy Altidore found the back of the net, and did it on two occasions in the USMNT’s 2-1 victory against Nigeria. Altidore’s performance earned him SBI USMNT Man of the Match honors, as voted on by SBI editorial staff.

Altidore scored his first on a tap-in after a great combination play between Alejandro Bedoya and Fabian Johnson in the 32nd minute, and then Altidore finished his second with aplomb, powering past Nigerian defender Joseph Yobo and sending a blast past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to put the U.S. up 2-0 in the 68th minute.

Finally. Bradley never partners well with anyone because of his lack of positional discipline. Now, in the new formation today they just let Bradley run around where he can’t hurt the team. This was the reason why Roma let him go. Let’s hope Jones and Beckerman is here to stay.

Agreed. Jermaine Jones was insane today. The first time I’ve really been impressed with his play. He left it ALL on the field. He was the general, cleaning up Bradley’s errors and pushing the team forward when Bradley wasn’t interested in doing so.

Look, a defending midfielder should clean up the attacking MF mistakes. It allows the attacking MF the freedom to do what he needs to do to make the offense go. It’s team football. If you did not see the way Bradley played as the engine for this team today, then I cant help you.

JJ gave away a decent amount of balls in the first half(which is why he is no MOM to me), but I agree he looked fast, committed to the cause, and a menace. Ghana will not have a good counter to a JJ that plays like this.

JJ was all everyone said he was, but he still had a ton of loose turnovers in the first half. Until he cleans those up, I can’t vote for him. At least two of those could have easily caused goals. I would go MB, Jozy, FJ, JJ.

Wrong. The team is constructed to cover for FJ being caught out of position (KB OR AB cover) or Bradley to make a loose turnover in the middle or attacking halves (JJ and KB still behind the ball). What cant happen is loose turnovers from a player who’s role it is to clean up for loose play of those around him. Kyle didn’t have the same sort of mistakes despite having a very similar role to JJ. Jones had more responsibilty on his side since Dempsey doesn’t have the defensive responsibilities that Bedoya does (though Beasly stays home more than Johnson as well).

It’s not bias to understand the players roles and how they work together. Jones and Beckerman are essentially co-destroyers, with Jones granted more upfield freedom because A. He’s better at it and B the team needs it to attack up the field the way they like.

The problem with Sunderland is they have a terrible midfield that can’t seem to make passes to the forwards/striker. Additionally, Sunderland’s defense is very bad. It’s difficult for a striker to score when nobody can give him the ball in dangerous places and the team is always worried about compacting the defense.

I kind of think Dempsey’s selfishness on that play contributed to the second goal. Altidore sometimes isn’t assertive enough when he gets the ball, but I think that Dempsey play, where Clint had Jozy open but took it himself, was a handy reminder that sometimes, you have to be a little selfish. Jozy’s goal #2 — where he turned and took on the defender rather than looking around for a teammate, came shortly after.

After the first friendly where Dempsey was a late scratch, I said that I thought bringing back Dempsey would help Altidore because some of Dempsey’s selfishness would rub off on him. Altidore has gotten steadily better over the course of the last 2 games and he’s in great position not just to be our hold-up man, but to create a few chances for himself (and maybe even get a goal or 2) at the big event.

Nah, we need players to shoot, it opens up defenses gives a scoring chance, a chance at a corner and opens up lanes as games evolve. Not shooting enough is one of my complaints for a lot of the USMNT…Klinnsman is changing the attacking mindset though I believe, especially for the strikers.

If they’ve got the keeper going the wrong way they should be pulling the trigger. Bedoya was unlucky not to score one those two screamers he uncorked. One looked to be going in but took a deflection off a defender’s face.

Klinsmann may have finally gotten it. Counterattack is our strength. Fine to work toward greater skilled play, but come tournament time, go with your strength. Arena and Bradley understood that. Too bad Klinsmann left one of the great counter attackers off the roster.

agree 100%. for all the B.S. talk about “attractive, attacking soccer” fed to casual fans to stoke excitement, with how shaky the Besler-Cameron-Gonzo center back situation is, there is no way Klinsmann wouldn’t have stuck with the tried and true bunker ball play..and in the group of death it is the right philosophy. The players haven’t changed, the type of talent Western European countries harvest annually simply won’t be in the U.S. for at least 10-15 years, so the style, with some variations of defense first and counter second will be here to stay no matter who the coach is

MB90 is the MOTM- the guy broke up plays defensively and served at least a half a dozen scoring chances on a platter…

side question, is Bedoya that incapable of delivering a smart pass in the final third? he got one to FJ on the first goal, but also absolutely tied himself in knots on at least three others and destroyed USMNT’s chance of scoring…if that’s the strategy JK will roll our (3 CMs, 1 F and 2 kinda sorta forwards, but could also be wings) I’d rather have LD out there delivering the final ball

I don’t disagree, he screwed up a few passes and unlike other players who did that (say Bradley) he didn’t have a ton of good quality passes to counter act that. He did rip a couple shots. I think one was going in, if not for an excellent block. Bedoya doesn’t have the vision or crossing ability of Zusi or Donovan. He is better defensively. His work rate is outstanding as well. He creates opportunities just by out hustling opponents.

I think Bedoya v. Zusi is the one real open debate heading into a week from Monday. (Well I think Cameron would be better in the Beckerman role, but we need him at RCB since Gonzo is utterly undependable.) Zusi is more creative and accurate moving the ball, but Bedoya will put in the work rate on both ends and is more off a threat to find the net. I like the idea of Zusi as a late sub when a set piece may be the difference. Gonzo as a late sub for Beckerman for the same reasons, and Johansen or Mix for another late on attacking option.

“There is no way Klinsmann can claim these two players would be more valuable than Donovan.” – Unless he watched, studied, analyzed, & evaluated them head-to-head, side-by-side for countless hours over several days, like you obviously did.

Green no(but we know why he was chosen for the next 15 years not now), but Davis Has the best left foot in the pool, which may prove valuable at some point and is a skill neither Donovan nor anyone else has.

demsey’s attitude needs a reboot. his ‘i am badass’ look is getting old. watch his reaction to bradley’s strike early in the first half. All pout and reproachful gestures toward MB. then watch altidore after demspey goes it alone and altidore is flagrantly wide open. after dempey’s shot if easily corralled by the Nigerian keeper, Jozy puts out his hand for a hey good job deuce, and deuce blows him off. taking himself too seriously, that clint. needs to loosen up more and look up more.

I saw Jozy give Deuce good job gesture as well, I’m not so sure Deuce blew him off though. I think he gave him a little acknowledgement.

Deuce is a ball hog, not someone who looks to setup others. That is who he is. Sure I’d love him to find Jozy on that, but he just as likely to miss the pass and then we would all be criticizing him for not forcing the goalie to make a save.

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